Matchmaking machine



June' 2, 1936. P. w. DIETMANN MATCHMAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, l954m 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, was, P, W, DIETMN 2,043,156

MATCHMAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. l8, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2, 1936.

P. w. DIETMANN MATCHMAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 S, uw,

June 2, 1936. P. w. DLETMANN MATGHMAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 8, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 2, 1936 MATCHMAKING MACHINE Paul Wilhelm Detmann, `lonkoping, Sweden Application August 8, 1934,` Serial No. 739,042 In Sweden August 23, 1933 22 Claims.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of matches in continuous match making mae chines of the kind having means for'iilling the matches into boxes. Known machines of this kind have been designed to deliver a iixed number of matches into the Vboxes and they consequently donot permit of any change being made in the quantity of matches to be supplied to each box. Such change in the number of matches, i. e. the box content, may of course be effected by transferring the matches from the match making machine to separate box illing machines. However, this procedure involves unnecessary waste of labour and, moreover, such iilling machines have the disadvantage of not obviating a great variation in the number of matches delivered to the individual boxes, although the average content may be held within reasonable limits. It is desirable, in the iilling operation, therefore to be able to obtain, not only any constant average box content but also a possibly equal number of matches in the individual boxes.

According to the present invention a very simple solution of this problem is attainable, in match making machines having means for filling the matches into boxes, by regulating, before the final ejection of the finished matches, the extent of setting of the match carrier so as to assume a value below the maximum one and corresponding to the desired number of matches per box in each particulai case. Apparently, this will result in every portion of the carrier being more or less incompletely i'llled with matches when advanced to the ejecting position, the degree of incompleteness being dependent on the predetermined number of matches per box. This feature of predetermining the box content already in the match making machine proper, i. e. in a stage of the manufacture Where the matches are still individually arranged and may be individually operated upon, renders possible a very simple and reliable construction of those devices, the object of which is to effect the regulation of the box contents. The means employed for transferring the matches from the carrier to the match boxes may be designed to perform the same Voperation for all numbers of matches desired, and said means may, therefore, be of any known kind.

Some embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure l illustrates schematically the principal feature of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of part of a match making'machine having means for performing the method according to the invention.

Figures 3a and 3b are plan views of some parts of the setting mechanism.

Figures i and 5 Figure 6 is a vertical section of the setting f mechanism. Y f

Figure 7 is a vertical section of a second embodiment of thesetting or inserting mechanism. Figure 8 is a detached end View of said second embodiment, taken from the 'left in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a vertical section of a device for electing certain match splints from the carrier chain.

Figures 10a and 1Gb show, indifferent stages, part of a carrier bar in the match carrying chain. Figure 11 partially showsan automatic device for controlling thesetting of the carrier chain. Figures l2 and 13 show details of the control device. i

Referring to Figure l, i denotes one of the perorated bars of a match carrier chain when ad vanced to the ejecting position. 2, 3, 4 and 21, 31, il respectively, are match boxes or other receptacles, designed to receive Ya quantity of matches from the carrier bar and positioned, for instance, upon a conveyor belt which advances them step by step in a direction parallel to the bars of the carrier chain. In the example shown,

the movement vof the boxes across the carrier chain is supposed to take place in two steps, and each box ywill consequently receive matches at two different times and in two different positions.

In each position a lcertain number of matches isV delivered into each box, the number being, in the example shown, equal to the number of matches contained in five vertical rows of holes 5, each row comprising four holes. Provided that all the holes 5-of the carrier chain hold matches, i. e. the extent of setting being 100%, each box will consequently receive 4 5=20 matches in 'each position, i. e. the total box content Will, in Ythis case, be 40. If, instead, live vertical ro-ws each comprising five matches were simultaneously ejected, the box content would be 2 5 5=50, etc. In this way a stepwise change in the box content may be effected by changing the number of horizontal match rows simultaneously ejected. According to the present invention, however, the number of matches may be more evenly varied by suitably regulating, in advance, the extent of setting within each group of' horizontal or vertical match rows intended for one and the same box. Preferably this regulating procedure should be located to one vertical row of each group, as"

indicatedr in Figure l. In the left part of the bar I, (Figure l), two matches are missing in the ith vertical row of each group.V Therefore, 18 matches, instead of 20, are ejected in the first receiving position of the boxes. In the right part of VFigure 1 the whole of the iifth vertical row is Vwithout matches, the number of matches Vsimultaneously-'ejected in each group being, consequently, 16. After having received matches twice, each box consequently contains 18+16=34 matches. Merely by varying the setting of one vertical row per group it is thus possible to obtain any number of matches between 40 and 32. Obviously, other limits for the variation may be obtained by selecting a different number of match rows to be simultaneously ejected.

Figure 2 shows the front part of a match making machine having means for performing the method according to the invention. The various parts of the machine are mounted on a frame 9, the rear portion of which (not shown in the drawings) serves as support for the usual match dryer. During their conveyance through the machine the matches are carried by an endless conveyor II, constituted, in known manner, by parallel bars I0, Figure 6, linked together at their ends and having rows of holes or other holders to receive match splints. Engaging the carrier chain are pairs of toothed wheels I2, I3, and I4, imparting to the carrier chain a stepwise motion in timed relation to the working incidences of the machine. Mounted horizontally in the frame 9 is a driving shaft I5 connected by gearing to a parallel shaft I6, the necessary driving power being transmitted to the shaft I5 in any suitable manner. Fixed to one end of the shaft I6 is a bevel-wheel I1 meshing with a second bevel-wheel I8 on a longitudinally extending shaft I9. Being mounted in bearings 20, 2|, xed to the frame 9, said shaft isY adapted to transmit motion to the various devices, not shown in the drawings, for parafnation, dipping etc. as well as to the pairs of driving wheels I3 and I4 for the carrier chain. For the latter purpose the shaft I9 carries .a cam disc 22 engaging between rollers 23 on a disc 24 which is mounted on the same shaft 25 as are the wheels I3, see Figure 6. By means, for instance, of a chain transmission, the shaft 25 is connected to a shaft 26, carrying the wheels I4. Mounted on the shaft I5 are also two eccentric discs 21, operatively connected, by means of eccentric rods 28, to an insertion beam 29, so that, upon the rotation of the shaft I5, a reciprocating motion is imparted to said beam.

Y For effecting the discharge of the finished matches from the carrier chain a reciprocating needle bar 38 is provided in known manner, carrying several rows of needles 3I and thus capable of ejecting a corresponding number of horizontal match rows by each stroke. The needle bar 30 is carried by guides 32, 33 and is operatively connected with a two-armed lever 34, swingably mounted in the frame 9 and operated at its lower end by a cam disc 35 mounted on the shaft I 6. The gear ratio between the shafts I5 and I5 is such that the number of match rows ejected by each stroke of the ejecting mechanism is equal to the number of match rows inserted into the carrier chain during a corresponding period of time. The gearing in question may preferably be a variable one, if the box content is to be varied within wide limits. Guide-plates B0 xed to a cross-beam 6I are adapted to guide the ejected matches falling into receptacles 62 mounted on a conveyor belt 63. By means of a device not shown in the drawings, the conveyor belt 53 is being advanced a distance corresponding to half the width of the carrier chain during the intervals between consecutive ejections, so that each receptacle will receive matches at two different times and in two different positions. After leaving the receiving position in front of the carrier chain, the receptacles are advanced to a 4filling position at the side of the machine, where, by any appropriate means, the match portions contained in the receptacles are transferred into a corresponding number of match boxes. Such means are known per se and are, therefore, not shown in the drawings. Evidently, the matches discharged from the carrier chain II may also be collected directly in match boxes carried by the conveyor belt 62.

The regulating of the extent of setting of the carrier chain, according to the present invention, may be effected by intentionally failing to insert match splints into certain holes of the carrier bars. For this purpose the inserting or setting mechanism may be designed as shown in Figures 3-6. The aforementioned insertion beam 29 is slidable back and forth in stationary guides 36. Mounted on said beam are horizontal plates or gratings 31 having grooves 38 provided therein for receiving splints 39 from a hopper 49 positioned above the gratings, and for guiding the same during their insertion into the perforations of the carrier bars I0. During such insertion the rear ends of the splints are engaged by teeth provided on a vertically movable insertion comb so as to project through openings 38a, in the bottoms of the grooves 38, see Figs. 3a and 3b. The provision of such an insertion comb is known per se, and for, the sake of clearness it is not shown in Figures 3 6. However, those teeth of the insertion comb that correspond to every fifth groove in the gratings are dispensed with and in lieu thereof needles or rods 4I are provided which are longitudinally movable in the grooves in question, said needles being fixed at their rear ends to two transversely arranged bars or plates 42, each corresponding to half the width of the machine. At their ends the bars 42 are slidably mounted in guides 43 rigidly secured to the frame 9 so that said bars are movable back and forth in the direction of movement of the insertion beam. On their under sides the bars 42 are provided with lugs 44 adapted to be engaged by set screws 45 mounted on the insertion beam 29. Extending parallel to the bars 42 are two co-axial shafts 41 journalled in bearings 49 mounted on the frame 9. Fixed to each of said shafts 41 are arms 48 projecting with their upper ends into apertures 46 provided in each of the bars 42.

Fixed to each of said shafts is also a downwardly directed arm 5B. A spring 5I connected to the frame 9 imparts to the arm 50 a tendency of turning in a clockwise direction in Figure 6. At its lower end the arm 59 carries a roller 52 and mounted in the frame 9 opposite this roller is a horizontal shaft 53, carrying a cam disc 54 which is interchangeable or made up either of several detachable portions or of mutually displaceable segments 54a and 54h, Fig. 6. The movement of the arm 5I] as operated by the spring 5I is determined by the action of the cam disc 54 upon the roller 52. The shaft 53 and the cam disc 54 mounted thereon are driven by gearing from the longitudinal shaft I9, their motion being such that the cam disc turns one revolution for each feed motion of the conveyor belt 53. During part of this revolution the movement of the arm 59 will be almost completely prevented by the cam disc 54 whereas the arm 50 will be free to move during another part of the revolution.

The operation of the inserting mechanism is as follows:

In the position of the cam disc 54 shown in Figure 6, the spring 5I imparts to the arm 50, as well as to the shaft 41 and the arms 48, a tendency to turn in a, clockwise direction so that the lugs 44 are held in contact with the screws 45. The

gratings 31 and the needles 4| are then in the mutual positions shown in Figures 3a and 4, the adjustment ofthe screws 45 being such that the ends of the needles 4| are flush with the teeth of the insertion comb. At Ythe subsequent forward movement of the insertion beam the match splints resting in the grooves 38 in front of the teeth and the needles 4| respectively, are pushed into the opposite perforations ofthe carrier chain, and during the subsequent return motion of the insertion beam the needles 4| are caused tomove in unison with said beam by the action of spring 5| and a further series of splints are, in known manner,- caused to descend into the vgrooves in frontof theneedles in order to be inserted into the carrier chain at the next stroke of the insertion beam. In this case a full number of splints is consequently inserted into each horizontal row of perforations. In thecase where the cam disc 54 'occupies a position such'asthat shown inFigure 2, it will stop the motion of the arm 50 as well as of the needles 4|. When the insertion beam is in its outer position, therefore, the various elements will be positioned as shown in Figures 3b and 5,'the needles 41 occupying entirely their respective grooves, thus preventing the splints from entering the said grooves. At the next stroke-of the insertion beam no splints will, therefore, be pushed into the corresponding perforations of the carrier chain. .Due to the rotation of the cam disc 54 the movement of the arm 50 as well as that of the needles 4| will obviously be alternately unhindered and impeded and by adjusting or interchanging the cam disc 54 this function may be determined at will, thus making it possible to produce practically any desired extent of setting of the carrier chain.

In the embodiment of the inserting mechanism above described two independent transversal bars 42 are provided, each carrying a set of needles 4| and being operated by a system of arms 48, 50 with appendant controlmeans.` This double arrangement is due to the fact that each match box or receptacle is intended to receive matches at two different times during its travel, once from each half of the carrier chain. In case of carrier chains having a large width it may prove desirable to allow each box or receptacle to receive matches three or four times, the inserting mechanism above described being then provided with aV correspondingly increased number of independent sets of needles.

The regulation of the extent of setting of the carrier chain may be effected also by means of an inserting mechanism of the kindV disclosed in Figures '1 and 8. As in the embodiment above described the grating 31', mounted on the inserting beam 29', is provided with openings in the bottoms of the grooves, and projecting through said openings are teeth of inserting comb elements 9| rigidly secured to a cross beam 89. Being raised and lowered, in known manner, in timed relation to the movement of the inserting beam 29', said teeth are adapted to act' upon the match splints situated in the grooves in front of the teeth during each forward stroke of the inserting beam, thereby causing the splints to be inserted into the carrier chain. Some of the grooves of the grating 31', say every fifth one, have no teeth 90 correlated thereto, and in lieu of the teeth thus omitted a second series of teeth 92 is provided, which is also movable up and down in the openings of y the grating 31', though independently'of'the mothe under side of the inserting beam 29.

tion'of `theordinary inserting comb 9|. In the embodiment shown, the teeth 92 are secured toa plate 88V which -is slidably mounted between the cross-beam 89 and the inserting beam 29, being mounted on verticalbars 93 secured to a cross-bar 5 94, which, yin its turn, is vertically movable in guides 95 provided in hangers 96 rigidly secured to At its ends the cross-bar 94 is provided with longitudi- Y nally vextending pivots for slide-pieces 91, slidably lo mounted in guides 98provided in arms 99 `mounted on the 4horizontal shaft "41' to which is also fixed an arm |00 carrying at its free end a roller |0| engaging a rotatable cam disc 54. Cooperating, in known manner, with the ordinary insertl5 ing comb 9| is a similarly movable cleaning comb |08, and to the separate series of teeth 92 a series of cleaning needles |01 are correlated, said needles being movable in grooves provided in one side of the cleaning comb |08. The needles |01 arev 20 Y secured to a cross-bar |06 carried by vertical slides |04 movable `in guide-openings provided in a transversal beam |05. At their lower ends the slides |04 are secured to rods |03, connected to the arms 99 by means of pivot pins |02. 25

The operation of this device is as follows: During the reciprocating motionof the inserting beam 29 the Yslide-pieces 91 move back and forth in their guides 98 provided in the arms 99. Due to the position of the cam disc 54 controlling the 30 position of the arms 99, the teeth 92 connected with the bar 94 will either project above the bottoms of the grooves or will be lowered to a position 'flush therewith. In the iirst case the match splints situated in the grooves in front of the 35 teeth are inserted, but in the second case no splints are inserted into the corresponding perforations of the carrier chain 0. Also the height position of the needles |01 is determined by the position of the arm 99, and saidneedles will therefore per- 40 form a function equal to that of the cleaning comb |08, i. e., clearing the grooves from splinters, broken splints etc. possibly remaining in the grooves in front of the teeth. A further object of the needles |01 is to prevent the splints, resting in 45Y the grooves, from being advanced together with the grating 31 in such cases when no splints are to be inserted.

From the aboveit is obvious that by suitably shaping the cam disc 54' it will be possible to 50 have splints Vinserted into certain perforations of the carrier chain during one period, whereas during a subsequent period no splints are inserted into the corresponding perforations, and by interchanging or adjusting this cam disc the desired 55 adaptation of the machine for various box contents may be effected in a simple manner. Furthermore, it is evident that in particular cases the extent of setting may be appropriately reduced by incessantly keeping the teeth 92 inoper- 60 ative.

In certain cases an adjustable inserting mechanism such as one of those above described may preferably be combined with additional devices for regulating the extent of setting of the carrier 65 chain. This may be done by providing an extra ejecting mechanism by means of which certain splints or matches are ejected from the carrier chain before the final ejection. Such device is shown in Figure 9. Principally it comprises a 70 needle bar 65 movable towards and away from the carrier chain I0 and having a number of ejecting needles 65 provided on its side facing the chain, said needles being adapted to enter the corresponding perforations-of the carrier chain due to 75 the movement of the needle bar, therebyejecting the splints occupying theperforations ln question. The ejecting needles may be positioned, for instance, oppositeevery fth perforation in the longitudinal rows of the` carrier chain so that every fth splint is ejected at each stroke of the needle bar 65. Said bar is carried by pairs of guide-rails 61, 61, slidably mounted on guides 68, 68 mounted on the shafts I5 and 26, respectively, above referred to. Mounted at the upper end of each pair of guide-rails is a roller 69, adapted to be engaged by a cam disc 10 fixed to the shaft I 5. By means of springs 64 the needle bar B5 together with its guide-rails 61 is operated upon in a downward direction. Upon the rotation of the cam disc 1) the needle bar will, therefore, have a vertically reciprocating motion imparted thereto. Mounted between the guide-rails 61 is also a cross-bar 1I carrying a roller 12. During the downward stroke of the bar this roller 12 may come to rest against a cam disc 13, said disc being preferably adjustable, as was the cam disc 54. The cam disc 13 is xed to a horizontal shaft 'i125 which, as indicated in Figure 2, is connected to the longitudinal shaft I9.

The operation of this device is as follows. By the action of cam disc 10 the spring-operated needle bar 65 is raised to its upper position before each forward motion of the carrier chain I I and is thereafter again lowered through the action of the spring. According to the position of the cam disc 13 the needle bar will either perform the whole of its downward stroke, thereby ejecting every fifth splint in one of the transversal rows of thecarrier chain, or it will be stopped by the roller 12 engaging the cam disc 13, as is shown in Figure 7. In this latter case no ejection of match splints will follow. By suitably designing the cam disc 13 it is possible to have any desired number of splints ejected, within certain limits, and obviously the result will be a regulation of the extent of setting of the carrier chain similar to that obtained by means of the movable inserting mechanisms above described.

As was the case with the inserting mechanisms also this additional ejecting mechanism may be divided into several independent units, each being individually adjustable as to its function. From this it is clearrthat an additional ejecting mechanism may also be employed solely, i. e., where no variable inserting mechanism is provided. However, the combination of both kinds of mechanisms Widely increases the possibility of varying the box contents without simultaneously complicating' the individual devices. According to Figure 2 the additional ejecting mechanism is positioned immediately behind the inserting mechanism. However, there is nothing to prevent its being placed, in lieu thereof, immediately in front of the ejecting mechanism proper. In this case a special collecting device may be provided for the matches ejected in advance, whereby the capacity of the match machine will be more fully made use of. Instead of ejecting a certain number of finished matches previous to the final ejection of the matches to be filled into boxes, one might equally well, for the purpose of regulating the extent of setting of the carrier chain, rst eject those matches that are to be filled into boxes, thereafter ejecting and collecting the remaining matches in a second ejecting position. For this purpose some of the needles of the first ejecting bar may be detachable or periodically displaceable.

By means ofv the regulating devices above described those box contents for which the machine is actually adjusted, are held absolutely constant, provided thatthe extent of setting of the carrier chain is the one determined oni. e., that no holes of the carrier chain are unintentionally vacant. In practice, however, the occurrence of unintentionally vacant holes is inevitable. In most cases this inaccuracy in the extent of setting of the carrier chain and consequently, also in the box contents, is of minor importance. In certain cases, however, the demands for exactitude in the box contents are so important that even the above circumstances must be considered. In order to ensure a suiiicient exactitude in the box contents in spite of occurring inaccuracy in the setting of the carrier chain, a special automatic control device may be used, the operation of which may be based, for instance, upon the following principle. Every horizontal row of holes may be imaginarily divided into groups of, say, five matches, one of which, say the fifth one, is normally to be ejected in advance. Only in case one of the other four matches in the group in question is missing, the fifth match is not to be ejected. Figures 10a and 10b serve for the illustration of this principle. Figure 10a shows a part of a carrier bar the setting of which shows certain irregularities. Figure 10b shows the same bar after it has passed the control device. By the aid of the control device the number of matches in each group has been determined at I6 in spite of the irregularities of the setting.

A control device operating in accordance with this principle may be designed as shown in Figures 1l-l3. ly, serve for the guidance of a series of feeling needles 11 and of an ejecting needle '18. All the needles are held in the advanced position shown in Figure il by means of springs 19. At one of their ends the feeling needles 11 are of less diameter than are the perforations in the carrier bars I9. At their opposite ends they are provided with cylindrical heads 8| adapted to t in corresponding openings in a slidable locking plate 80. Fixed to the plate 15 is a guide plate 82 serving for the guidance of the locking plate 80 which is operated upon by a spring 83. The locking plate 80 also has an opening for the needle 18, through which opening the upper end of said needle may pass when the locking plate 8B occupies a certain position. At its opposite end the needle 18 has a diameter corresponding to that of the perforations in the carrier bars, and the length of said needle is somewhat less than the length of the needles 11. For each group, comprising ve perforations, one such control device is provided, and all these control devices are united to one mechanism, the various devices being preferably somewhat staggered laterally, from considerations of space. The whole of the control mechanism may be associated with the machine in the same manner as was the needle bar 65 (Figure 9) and it may have a similar reciprocating motion imparted thereto. Due to this motion the reduced ends of the needles 11 rst enter the corresponding perforations of the carrier bar. If all these perforations are occupied by matches, as in Figure 12, the needles 11 are displaced in their guides against the action of the springs 19 so that their heads are brought out of the openings in the locking plate 80, whereby the latter is released, and, through the action of spring 83, is caused to slide to the right. Due to this movement of the locking plate the pas- Two plates 15 and 16 resepectivesage for the needle 18 is shut othereby fixing the position of said needle. The mechanism continues its motion towards the carrier bar, and during this motion the ejecting needle 18 enters the fifth hole of the group in question, ejecting the match held therein. During the return movement of the control mechanism the locking plate 80 is automatically moved back to its initial position bystriking against a stationary nose 85'whereupon the heads 8l immediately slide back into their respective holes, thereby again locking the locking plate 80.

If, on the other hand, one match in the group is missing, as illustrated in Figure 13, the corre-- sponding needle 11 will enter the vacanthole in the carrier chain, its cylindrical head 8l keeping the plate 80 locked, so that the needle 18 is free to pass through its hole in the locking plate. When striking against Athe match end the needle 18 will, therefore, move backwardsk in its guides instead of ejecting the match in question. Thus, the effect of this control mechanism is that four matches are always being left within each group, comprising ve holes, this being the case whether initially` one match is missing in any of the holes, or not.

The control mechanism as above described has been devised to act uponevery transverse row of holes of the carrier chain. It will be obvious, however, that the same mechanism may also be used for performing the function of the needle bar 65, i. e., ejecting every fth match or splint from certain rows. only. In the case where initially one match is missing in a fivehole group, the fifth match will not be ejected. By this arrangement a partial, though not complete compensation for irregularities inthe setting is, consequently, obtained.

Furthermore, it is evident that the mechanisms disclosed for regulating the extent of setting of the carrier chain are merelyl shown by way of example and that other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.v As already stated, the variousmechanisms may be used either severally or jointly, according to the adjustability and exactness required in each particular case. Naturally, the aforementioned groups into which the carrier chain was imaginarily divided, need not necessarily comprise five holes or perforations, since any number of holes may be selected that is deemed suitable with regard to the designing of the parts and to the working conditions of the machinery.

What I claim is:- Y

l. In a match making machine having box filling attachments, the combination of a splint magazine, a travelling match splint conveyer having holders to receive match splints, said holders being arranged in longitudinal and transversal rows with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyer, a reciprocating setting mechanisrn situated below said magazine and adapted to receive succeeding rows of splints therefrom and to insert said splints into the holders of the conveyer, a mechanism for ejecting the nished matches from said conveyer, said setting mech-- anism and said conveyer forming aplurality of match splint travelling paths between said magazine and said ejecting mechanism, splint actuating members insertable into some of said paths of travel and adapted to keep said paths free from splints, and operatingrmechanism for periodically making said members operative.

2. The combination setV forth in claim 1 and wherein the operating mechanism comprises means for varying the length of the periods of inoperation of the splint actuating members.

3. In a match making machine having box filling attachments, the combination of a perforated match splint conveyer, splint setting mechanism at one location in the path of travel of said conveyer, match ejecting mechanism Aat another location in said path, and automatic means to vacate some of the perforations of the conveyer before reaching the ejecting mechanism.

4. In a match making machine having boX filling attachments, the combination of travelling match splint carrier `bars having rows of perforations to receive match splints, splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said bars, match ejecting mechanism at another location in said course, automatic device to vacate some of the Lperforations of the carrier bars before reaching the ejecting mechanism, and means controlling said automatic device for varying the number of perforations made vacant by said device.

5. In a match making machine having box lling attachments, the combination of a match carrier, a match splint magazine, a splint setting mechanism comprising a reciprocating grating having grooves provided therein to receive match splints from said magazine, and movable members correlated to some of said grooves and adapted to control the supply of match splints to said groves. l

6. In a match making machine having box filling attachments, the combination of a` match carrier, a match splint magazine, a splint setting mechanism comprising a reciprocating grating having grooves provided therein to receive match splints from said magazine, and a plurality of needles adapted to be periodically inserted into certain of the grooves in order to iill up Vsaid grooves and, thereby, to prevent reception of splints therein.

7. In a match making machine having box filling attachments, the combination of a match carrier, a match splint magazine, a splint setting mechanism comprising a reciprocating gratingv having grooves provided therein to receive match splints from said magazine, a plurality of needles adapted to be periodically inserted into certain of the grooves, and a needle supporting plate movable parallel to the grating and adapted to partake in its movement during the inserting stroke, said plate being resiliently operated upon during the return movement of the grating.

8. In a match making machine according to claim 7, the provision of an adjustable locking device for periodically preventing the return movement of the needle supporting plate.

V9. In a device for inserting match splints into carrier bars of a match making machine, in combination, a splint magazine, a grooved grating for receiving succeeding rows of splints from said magazine, and for guiding them during their insertion into the carrier bars, means for moving said grating towards and away from said carmeans for periodically keeping Asaid independentently movable members inoperative.

11. In a device for inserting match splints into carrier bars of a match making machine, in combination, Va splint magazine, a grating below said magazine provided with grooves for the reception of the splints, means for reciprocating the grating in the direction or the grooves, one series of teeth cooperating with some of the grooves for inserting the splints from said grooves into the carrier bars, a second series of insertion teeth cooperating'with the rest of the grooves, and means for periodically keeping said second series of teeth inoperative.

12. In a device for inserting match splints into carrier bars of a match making machine, in combination, a, splint magazine, a grating below said magazine provided with grooves for the reception of the splints, one series of vertically movable splint operating teeth correlated to some of the grooves for inserting the splints from said grooves into the carrier bars, a second series of vertically movable insertion teeth correlated to the rest of the grooves, means for reciprocating the grating together with said teeth in the direction of the grooves, operating mechanism for vertically moving said teeth between an operative position and an inoperative position in timed relation to the movement of the grating, said mechanism comprising means for periodically keeping the second series of teeth in said inoperative position during the inserting stroke of the grating.

13. In a match making machine having box filling attachments, in combination, travelling match splint carrier bars having rows of perforations to receive match splints, splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said bars, ejecting device for vacating some of the perforations of the carrier bars at a second location in said course, and an ejecting mechanism for vacating the rest of the perforations at a third location in Said course.

14. In a match making machine having box lling attachments, in combination, travelling match splint carrier bars having rows of perforations to receive match splints, splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said bars, an ejecting device for vacating some of the perforations of the carrier bars at a second location in said course, an ejecting mechanism for vacating the rest of the perforations at a third location in said course, and adjustable means for varying the number of perforations made vacant by said ejecting device.

15. In a match making machine, in combination, travelling match splint carrier bars having rows of perforations to receive match splints, splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said bars, a'needle bar having a number of ejecting needles at a second location in said coursefmeans for reciprocating said needle bar in such timed relation to the movement of the carrier bars that each needle will engage a minority only of the succeeding rows of perforations, mechanism for ejecting the finished matches at a third location in the course of the carrier bars. and means associated with said ejecting mechanism for filling the ejected matches into boxes.

16. In a match making machine, in combination, a match carrier, match splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said carrier, mechanism for ejecting the finished matches at another location in said course, means associated with said ejecting mechanism for lling the matches into boxes, an additional ejecting device at an intermediate location in said course, said device being mounted to slide to and from the carrier, means for resiliently acting upon said device in a direction towards the course of the carrier, means for moving said device in the opposite direction and for releasing the same in timed relation to the movement of the carrier, a locking mechanism adapted to prevent the ejecting device from reaching the match carrier during periodical timed intervals, and means for varying the length of said intervals.

17. In a match making machine having a perforated match carrier, match splint setting mechanism at one location in the course of said carrier, mechanism for ejecting the finished matches at another location in said course, and means associated with said ejecting mechanism for lling the matches into boxes, the provision of an additional ejecting device at an intermediate location in said course, said device comprising a series of feeling members for automatically controlling the presence of match splints in the corresponding perforations of the carrier, and a number of individually movable ejecting needles correlated to each feeling member and adapted to be locked and released, respectively, according to the position of the feeling members.

18` In a match making machine having box filling attachments, in combination, travelling match splint carrier bars having rows of perforations to receive match splints, a reciprocating setting mechanism at one location in the course of said bars adapted to insert succeeding rows of match splints into the carrier bars, means for varying the number of match splints inserted into the carrier bars at each stroke of the setting mechanism, ejecting device for vacating some of the perforations of the carrier bars at second location in said course, and an ejecting mechanism for vacating the rest of the perforations at a third location in said course.

19. In the process of lling boxes with matches manufactured in a match-making machine having box filling attachments, the step of varying the extent of setting of the match carrier chain in accordance with the actually desired number of matches per box by causing a selected number of holes of the carrier bars to be without matches before reaching the final ejecting position.

20. A method according to claim 19, and regulating the extent of setting of the match carrier chain by inserting into the carrier chain only that number of match splints that corresponds to the desired extent of setting.

21. A method according to claim 19, and regulating the extent of setting of the match carrier chain by ejecting a certain number of splints before the nal ejection of the matches.

22. In a match making machine having box lling attachments, the combination of a perforated match carrier, a reciprocating setting mechanism for inserting succeeding rows of match splints into the match carrier, and an adjustable mechanism for governing the extent of setting by causing a selected number of perforations of the carrier to be without matches before reaching a nal ejecting position.

PAUL WILHELM DIETMANN.

lOV 

